Broken Wings

Chapter Eighteen~ "Are humans always in love?"

Chapter Eighteen,

“Leo. You’ve got to marry this gem, before some other young gentleman steals her up." Leo’s mom giggled, nudging her son. I glanced down at my empty and was suddenly so interested in the way it curved around in a circle.

There was an awkward silence after Leo’s mom’s laughing died away.

Just in time, Thif joined us at the breakfast table and started a conversation about what to do with the hostages. Now I was listening.

“Well, there’s obviously no need for them now.” Thif stated, slurping up his breakfast. I looked away, but still concentrating on the conversation as best as I could. Was he thinking of killing them?

“I think we should ask Vi what we’re going to do with them.” Leo remarked. He obviously wasn’t in the best mood today. I snapped my attention from the window and looked at Leo. His eyes squinted, waiting for me to say something.

“Why ask me? Can’t you kill them?” I said, pretending not to be bothered. I knew that was the only thing I could say that wouldn’t make him suspicious. Leo’s eyebrows raised but he waited for his dad to answer.

“We’ll kill them tomorrow. Would you do the honour, Vi?” Thif asked, half swallowing his breakfast and half talking.

Tomorrow? Oh god, no, that wasn’t enough time!

“You can’t make the lady kill!” Leo’s mom stood up for me. “She is pure and innocent. I think we should keep her that way, darling.”

I smiled at the queen of Trys, pretending to agree with her.

“Ok, Leo, you can kill them. Prove you manliness, eh?” Thif had his finger in his mouth now, trying to get a piece of goo from between his teeth. I looked away from the horrific sight of Thif’s mouth and focused on Leo’s empty plate.

“It would be my pleasure.” The words seeped out of his mouth and the way they sounded reminded me of the first time I met Leo’s mom at the ball for my return. I looked up from the plate to see he was glaring at me. Jeesh, what had I done?

“Oh-kay son, Tomorrow after lunch you can have your fun.” Thif stood from the table, smiling gently at me. “Excuse me; I have important business to attend.” He kissed his wife on the forhead before he disappeared through a door at the back of the room.

“Men and their work.” She laughed, clicking her fingers for the servants to clear the plates away. They scurried towards us like a pack of ants, cleaning the table clean in less than ten seconds. They all disappeared through another door and then it was just three of us left in the room.

Leo coughed slightly, then stood up.

“Excuse me, young man.” His mom laughed, grabbing his hand and almost dragging him back down. Leo gave an ungrateful look to his mom. She leant in, whispering something in his ear for a while.

My eyes darted around the room, searching for something to occupy me while they talked amongst themselves. I found a thread loose from my dress and started to fiddle aimlessly with it.

Leo coughed, to get my attention. He was suddenly stood behind my chair.

“Would you do the honour of going to dinner with me tonight?” He said, his voice reluctant and rough. I glanced at his mom, seeing the pleased smirk on her face I knew it was her doing. She nodded encouragingly, I pulled my chair out and stood directly in front of him.

“Oh,” I smirked, my eyes shining mischievously. “If you insist.” I fled to the garden quickly before he could say anything. I’d taken a home to the garden, it was the only place that actually had light. Apart from the room where Tristan was kept.